Marja Bergen

author, mental health advocate, follower of Christ

Category: Mental Health and Faith (page 27 of 41)

We’re not cats

  And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14   A few minutes ago, I watched my cat as she lay in a shaft of warm sunshine washing herself. It occurred to me how we humans […]

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Developing church acceptance

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES   265 (February 6, 2010) While away recently I had a lot of time to think, to read, and to journal. I came to the conclusion that I need to focus my energy on the things that are going to do the most good. And I need to delegate the things that sap […]

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Dignity and worth

  When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews […]

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A God-shaped void

  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. Philippians 3:8   The other night I had a most uncomfortable feeling, one I’ve frequently experienced in the […]

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We were at a National Conference

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES  255 (November 6, 2009) An exciting thing is happening for Living Room at the end of the month. We have been accepted to present a 4’x8′ poster at the Into the Light: Transforming Mental Health in Canada conference at the Hotel Vancouver. This is a national conference put on by the Mental […]

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Never completely stable

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES  244  (July 9, 2009) Yesterday morning I was reminded of the fact that I will never be a completely stable person. I thought God had answered my prayers and the prayers of my friends, bringing me to a return of joy and – I thought – stability. However, I’ve discovered that the […]

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The child in me (2019)

I’ve been a child. Still am one. Eager to create. Eager to learn. Eager to give. Eager to love and be loved. In a situation where a person you look up to shows love as you would have liked to be loved as a child, the child in you might very well appear. The adult […]

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Walking on water

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES  241  (June 19, 2009) A couple of weeks ago I told you about the Bible study Living Room would be starting today, John Ortberg’s “If you want to walk on water you’ve got to get out of the boat.” It’s based on the story of Peter, leaving the boat in the midst […]

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Will God accept me?

LIVING ROOM MEMORIES  188  (September 7, 2008) I had questions from a reader that I’d like to address. There may be some with similar problems. She sounds in deep pain. I hope this post will help. B. wrote, “I did things as a result of my impulses and emotions and feelings from my mania that […]

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The holes in our heart

Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me Psalm 41:9   I’ve been thinking of the elderly lady I met in the hospital recently. She was only a few years shy of a hundred but proud of her independence. Yet, as we talked, she shed a few […]

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